This album is incredible. Ritchie Castalino FTW. On first listen, I was like, who is this guy? Now I see what he's done for BOC and am grateful as a longtime fan. Best album since Fire.

@bradstensland506

5 ай бұрын

The Kid is incredible and has elevated BOC. Tainted Blood...holy shit1!!!

@TerryKrysinski

4 ай бұрын

Gotta agree..this is a FAB album front to back! T@@bradstensland506

I couldn’t wait for this album As a BOC fanatic It did not disappoint 10 out of 10

Wonderful show and discussion! I believe this is a great comeback. I didn't watch the videos or read reviews before this came out so I went in blind when I bought this and it blew me away. I did feel this was a long album but then I wondered what songs would I leave off? As time has passed, the more immediate tracks "Stand and Fight" and "There's a Crime" don't resonate like they used to but "Secret Road" and "Florida Man" have grown on me more. I love Richie Castellano's songs, particularly "The Machine", which is catchy and has those great BOC harmonies as well as a universal theme. We're addicted to our phones! "Box in My Head" is my favorite track and probably my favorite rock song of 2020. I also love "Tainted Blood", "Edge of the World", "The Return of Saint Cecilia", and "The Alchemist". This is a Top 5 BOC album for me. I give it a 9. Thanks guys!

This was a fun one to make and to watch. Lots of good comments from the panel, but my favorite part is when Matt goes through my criticisms and gives them each a sensible rebuttal. Well done, Matt. Definitely gave me food for thought. Now about that Stalk-Forrest Group - St. Cecilia discussion...

I rank this record very high. I saw them live recently and these new songs play very well. I'm just very happy we're getting new music from BOC. 10 out of 10 for me.

8.5 for me. It ranks in the upper-middle of their catalog for me. I don't think you could expect much better from these guys at this point of their career. So much more inspired than the AC/DC that came out around the same time, and that album received widespread praise of it's own on it's release.

Martin you gotta get Eric and Buck to do an interview on your show

I don't think I've seen a single negative review or opinion on this album.

@TerryKrysinski

4 ай бұрын

You have now..especially Bill's view. Jeepers... :-( T

@darkhymnsfromthecoldnorth

4 ай бұрын

@@TerryKrysinski True. Cheers.

This album is 🔥, I love it. It's a 9 / 10 for me, hope they do at least one more album and with the Bouchard brothers.

I haven’t watched the video yet, but do people seriously think of this album as a disappointment? The Symbol Remains is arguably the best hard rock album put out out by a legacy band in recent history, maybe in the entire 21st century. No exaggeration. If I am being picky, I would grade it a strong 4.5/5. If I’m being more charitable, it’s a 5/5. Top shelf BOC!

@elfman5176

Жыл бұрын

I give it a 10

@slaydesaid8741

Жыл бұрын

I definitely belong to the "it's overrated" camp. There are som decent songs on the album, but over all I don't think it's a very good album at all, so I guess I don't agree with your appreciation of the album. Is it the best come back album by a hard rock band in recent history? Maybe it is, I don't listen to many hard rock bands in general and I don't know how many legacy hard rock bands are still putting out music these days so that statement could still be true, even if I find this album pretty mediocre.

@TheChadTI

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely

Easily a 9 out 10. The Alchemist and Edge of the World are top 10 BOC songs all time. Just wish we could hear these songs live more often instead of Train True and Box in my Head.

I really thought Curse of the Hidden Mirror would be the last thing BOC ever released. To finally get new music that is just as great as that album and Heaven Forbid is amazing. Trying to compare these late period albums to the classic original lineup ones is hard, since so many of the original songwriters are not involved. I love this album for what it is and would say not overrated at all!

@bradstensland506

5 ай бұрын

Just wait! There's a "NEW" BOC album of re-cuts, and non-inclusions from Mirrors and Revolution sessions!!!!

I give TSR a 10. Outstanding LP, very solid and diverse. Strong songwriting, vocals and musicianship. Saw them live in September 2022. They kicked ass big time.

Who knew that in 1️⃣9️⃣7️⃣6️⃣, after buying my first BOC album ( A of Fortune) with my paper route $$$, that in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ I would still love this same groups new album , 44 yrs later. Bucks voice held up , all these years later. I’ll go 8.4 out of 10.0. Nice job gang. 👍💯

An absolute banger of an album!! 9 out of 10 all the way and every day.

Just a strait up good B.O.C. album and I find myself playing it quite often which means it's a pretty solid album.No way it's overrated in this day and age.Have to give it an 8 out of 10.

I think "Tainted Blood" sounds a lot like a Ten song, terrific track! a very good album overall to me. Thanks 🍺🤘!

@bradstensland506

5 ай бұрын

ONe of the best monster songs in BOC catalogue!

Fantastic comeback album for me, I just wished they would have put more albums out throughout the years that have past.

A very satisfying and surprisingly pleasant release for me. Overall I give it an 8.5 out of 10.

I found this album to be a fantastic comeback in the sense that they hadn't released an album in almost two decades and with the two remaining original members in their 70s, the level of quality on their performances is absolutely amazing. I do feel that Ritchie is the straw that stirs the drink on this album though and I understand how his addition on co, co-lead vocals for the band is a bit unsettling but, he delivers in spades and once the initial shock wears off, he's perfectly suited for his role in the band. I thoroughly enjoy Ritchie as a singer and a musician and I'm grateful to Eric and "Buck" for rewarding Ritchie's loyalty and perseverance with this promotion. Overall I rate this album 7.5/10 and I agree that it's a grower. I will sit with it for a while longer before I speculate on it's position among the rest of the catalog. I suspect it's going to sit somewhere in the upper part of the middle of the list but, I'll need to reevaluate the entire studio discography before I can say with any certainty. I've been listening to the Curse Of The Hidden Mirror while I type and I find myself digging this album a lot more than I did when I first got it. I'm sensing a trend with B.O.C. albums. My entry point to the band was the Fire Of Unknown Origin tour. I only had heard Godzilla and Burnin' For You from that album and Don't Fear The Reaper prior to seeing them at my first ever concert. I got F.O.U.O. shortly thereafter but, in addition to the aforementioned tunes, I only really liked Veteran Of Psychic Wars and Joan Crawford until ETI Live came out. I ended up getting Some Enchanted Evening next and enjoyed the hits off the two live albums for decades before getting the full discography. Each album I've listened to since taking the plunge has been chock full of complexity and rich with twists and turns to keep me guessing and although I find their music a bit off at times, I still find a lot to like and I tend to end up enjoying the albums a lot. I enjoy Heaven Forbid and The Curse Of The Hidden Mirror enough to rank them above several of the "concensus" picks from the classic era. The Symbol Remains seems to be falling in line with that as well. I'll do a contemplative deep dive on their studio output to make an educated attempt at ranking them. I'm beginning to wonder how it'll shake out in the end. I lean towards the Buck songs but, I love the heaviness of the riffs in the Eric-sung songs. I feel like the later material blurred the lines of seperation between them enough to make the material more enjoyable for me. More on that later.

Just watched the show very interesting I personally think the album is great lots of variety on it we should be thankful legacy bands like boc are creating new material rather than relying on past glories definitely a 9/10

Outstanding, erudite exchange! The gulf in opinions makes for great discussion. I'd compare TSR to Spectres - some heavy songs, some pop, some prog-ish. Had they trimmed this to 10 songs, it would be a 9/10. As is, 7.5.

I really like this album. Do I think it’s best album? No. Do I think it’s over rated? No. Do I think it’s a come back? No. I think of this album as a transition album. This was an opportunity to get the new members recorded with the original members.This also was an opportunity to get the fans used to hearing the new members recorded versus live. This was also to set up the future of the band in that Bloom and Buck Dharma may want to retire from touring but still have some sort of management or production control over the band. I think this is a good BOC album, but I think it’s a great transition album for the band.

Give it an 8 I think it’s their best since Cultosaurus nice comeback especially for guys that are in their 70’s

I myself only found out about this album in mid-2020 shortly after I began digging into BOC, shortly before it released. Thus, it was the first album that came out after I had gotten myself a bit acquainted with the band itself. Because of that, it instantly became one of my favorite albums ever. With the time that's passed as I've expanded my search into their classic catalogue, I've soured on it a little, but I still think it's one of their Top 5 best. Is it Number 1? No, Specters for me clinches that, though many would probably say Agents of Fortune or Secret Treaties instead. Rather, I think it is a great entry into the discography that, if this turns out to be the last BOC album that gets produced, I would be happy that it ended on a high note. If this leads to something more, I would also be happy. Either way, for me it's a great 9/10 work.

Another great album discussion! This BOC album is a "grower" if that makes any sense.

It's an amazing comeback!

Best BÖC album of the 2020's, that's it.

The album is great 👍

Fantastic comeback album. This is imo one of the best BOC albums. The song Edge of the world has become one of my favourite songs of all time. The only song I don’t like is Box in my head. 9/10

Agreed. I loved the whole thing at first, but I like the Buck songs better. Not that the Eric songs are bad. I still like it.

I am going to disagree on a lack of subtlety in lyrics for "The Alchemist". I had to track down the H.P. Lovecraft short story it was based upon. That is a blunt instrument of prose, with all the faults present there that were asserted for Richie's lyrics. What Richie manages that was never a part of Lovecraft's original is to finally give the alchemist a moment of self-revelation at the end of his life. For Lovecraft, the notion of an obviously gifted, intelligent man simply carrying out centuries of nearly-pointless retribution did not give him the slightest pause. Richie reflects that in the repeated line, "Your life is a prison of my design". At the end of the song, the dying alchemist gives his final boasts, but ends it all with, "Our lives were a prison of my design," finally recognizing what should have been obvious from much earlier on. That element has no counterpart in Lovecraft's original narrative. Richie's lyrics are, I submit, an improvement upon the Lovecraft original.

I think The Symbol Remains is one of the best BOC albums to be honest. It’s not Agents of Fortune, but I rank it pretty high. Saw them open for Cheap Trick in 2021 and wished they played more from this album.

@BegoneJonah

9 ай бұрын

I bought Agents of Fortune when it came out in the last days of May, 1976.

"Harvest Moon" was the main song of Heaven Forbid in my view. "The Alchemist" is the main song from this album in my view. If I would rank every Blue Öyster Cult song.. That would rank quite high! I can't say I am thrilled about the production of the album. Especially some of the heavier songs but the more I listen to the album.. The less I care. I do however find some of the heavier songs a bit average. "There's a Crime" and "Stand and Fight" is decent.. But would maybe been better b-sides than actually album cuts since the album is rather long. If someone think "Box in My Head" and "Train True (Lennie's Song)" is corny - I can relate but I still like them. Box has improved much on me! All three Richie Castellano songs I like. It sounded strange with a new singer.. But in the classic line-up everyone sang something.. So it's no surprise. I don't mind at all. The rest of the album that perhaps the is the most sounding like classic Blue Öyster Cult I do like quite a bit. I am not sure many songs rank against their best material but it's all good stuff. Two years later I still return now and again to most songs here on KZread. Do I think it's a future classic? No. For what it is.. It's a really nice treat for a fan. I would rank it higher than a couple of their other outings and yes, I like all of them to some degree. Overall ranking? Maybe a 7,5 / 10 just like Martin Popoff. That's not a bad grade by me. The guys at the channel "Tastes Like Music" doesn't like it at all. I don't think they given it enough chances. At first listen.. I wasn't that impressed either. Now? I like it much more.

@billschuster6680

Жыл бұрын

KZread is a small world. Tastes Like Music is a channel I subscribe to, as well. I often disagree with those kids, but apparently not here. 😄

Very great album😃👍

Martin, the Production on this album was done in exceptional circumstances ... lockdown. Largely by Richie I believe. All in all I was surprised how good they managed to make a new studio album after 19 years myself.

Just enjoy it or don’t …. Very entertaining collection of songs from these talented veterans, in my opinion. Still in my rotation after nearly three years.

I really like this album, I do think that there's arguably a couple too many songs on it, but overall I still feel positively about this album.

Saw BOC supporting Deep Purple a month ago. They were great even though it was a shorter set for the support slot. There was no BOC merch at all. Don't know whether that was because they had none left or because Purple wouldn't let them sell any.

I picked this up because I was getting back into the older BOC catalog due mostly to Martin's recommendation for the late 70s period. I owned Spectres and then Fire of Unknown Origin. I later discovered Curse of The Hidden Mirror which I really liked. This one I think is about equal with that. Maybe a bit more poppy. Box in My Head is my favorite track. Edge of the World, too. It's a really good album. Classic? Time makes a classic, but I don't think this will quite rival their best. 7.75/10

its a solid, fun, very good album. I'm old. I remember when Don't Fear the Reaper first came out on the top 40 radio charts. I have a memory stick with about 400 songs loaded on it that I've listened to my whole life (70's, 80's, 90s). I added most of the songs from The Symbol Remains right where they belong.......In the BOC section on my life.

I love how throughout their extended career and album releases, they've always ALWAYS had a song with some real "BOC boogie"!! Train True, AND Nightmare Epiphany smoke the boogie!

Fantastic. A perfect album, that being one you can play through completely without the urge to skip tracks.

Odd episode choice. I thought that everyone loved this album?

@matthewjachimiec

Жыл бұрын

That’s what I thought too, ha!

@billschuster6680

Жыл бұрын

That's kind of the point of The Contrarians. 😉

I just listened to this album two times back to back today after not hearing it for over a year and I like it even more now than I did before. For me, it gets better with each listen. I agree with the comments that it runs a bit long, but overall, think it is really strong album. I have grown to really appreciate Richie's lead vocals on here, but especially on Tainted Blood. BOC traditionally had 4 lead vocalists, so having 3 different sounding voices should not be too much of a stretch for fans, even if Richie has a different approach to the vocals than either Albert or Joe did and we have gotten used to only having Eric and Buck for the previous few albums. And while the Alchemist may sound a little bit like "BOC by the numbers," I think it works really well. That song would have been a strong track on almost any BOC album ever made, but in particular it sounds like it could have been put any album from 1977 to 1981 and really fit right in (of course the production would have been a bit different).

@kevlar1482

8 ай бұрын

Richie's vocals don't belong anywhere near "classic BOC" material. It would never fit. He sounds more like a studio session singer with an admittedly fantastic voice but not something I would ever want on a lead vocal. Over polished. More glam rock / hair metal / 80s power balld. Doesn't fit the legacy of the band but no hate. He's really talented. Tainted Blood makes me cringe though.

If ever there was a case for including a "middle of the road," it is this album. It is good, sometimes very good. For the advanced age of the band, it is a remarkable effort. It will never be considered a classic. When staring at the CD shelf, if I am in a BOC mood, this will not be a first choice. I think there are a lot of folks who have a deep affinity for the group who will rank it higher than it deserves because it feels like they owe it to the band. That said, there are so many legacy bands putting out slow, meandering, boring work. The Symbol Remains is not that. There's a real effort going on and I appreciate that very much. I would like to think they have yet another album in them, but if they do not, this is a fine project to end on. It's just not deserving of the hyperventilating glory it receives. It's right in the middle of the road between the poles. It would be easier to apply a binary ruling on it if it was a straight-up stinker, but it is not.

Frankly, longtime fans are probably happy they put out another lp. Personally, I was a bit disappointed but I grew up with this band and knowing the type of material they are capable of writing, I think they could have done better.

They developed this album over the F*cking telephone. During a PANDEMIC. It’s bloody fantastic.

it’s a good cd…i like it more than some of their supposed classic albums

HEAVEN FORBID IS A TOP 3 BOC ALBUM! ITS AWESOME, AND PERFECTLY BALANCED WITH CLASSIC, FREAKY AND HEAVY TUNES!

Regarding their discography, it's real easy for me: love almost all their 70's output (including most of Mirrors), don't like the 80's (aside from some of the singles and a few deep cuts, i.e. Deadline), their 90's/early 20's is vastly underrated (especially Heaven Forbid) and I just didn't care for their latest release whatsoever - heard it but had no desire to own it.

A good album that rewards with repeat listens - lots of ear candy when you concentrate. For me, all things considered (And mentioned by the panel), as a BOC album it's an 8. This will be controversial, but I wonder what it would sound like produced by Albert - for me, it's always a thought when listening to post-FOUO albums. I'm ducking for incoming!!!!

Great album , love it !

This is really entertaining so far. Yes, there are good songs on it. The so-called 'rough' production' should be a plus, given how smooth it got past the 70's. The 'poppy' stuff always takes some patience if you're talking about Dr Music type tunes. Or circular files of the mind, frankly. This band is just too damn democratic sometimes. It works, but Deep Purple only had 2 great albums. Wandering down Black Sabbath lane lately reminded me of how many great songs got top billing, and and then filler material completed the contractual obligations. Please, everyone else be as conflicted and contradictory as the first guy. Hahahahaha...

I have to agree with Bill Schuster in that I, too, found this album disappointing. I like the first two songs, "Box in my Head" and "That was Me," but other than those none of the tunes really stuck in my head, which is my metric for a BOC album's quality. I liked the snarky, occult, conspiracy-laden stuff that they did on their first three albums best. That's my favorite incarnation of the band, the Gawlik/Perlman stuff. I appreciate that that's hard to sustain. BUT - I've been listening to BOC since 1974 and I'm an old guy and my opinion is easily dismissed by some Tide Pod tester replying "OK Boomer." The album cover is awful, but it's not as bad as 1979's "Mirrors," which was just plain lazy. On that one the back cover should have been the front cover and the front cover should have been the back cover. (Didn't like the Cultosaurus Erectus or Club Ninja covers, either. But at least Club Ninja had "Perfect Water," which I love.) I really miss the Bouchard brothers, esp. Albert! 6 out of ten, I think.

I give this a 8 out of 10. I've always liked the heavier EB tunes throughout their catalog and on the new album as well. I agree with it being a couple songs too long. I don't care for box in my head. Especially the lyrics. Just way too cheesy. Not a big fan of train true either. Tho se 2 could have been left out for me. All though I think they would be ok on a buck solo album.

The only reason you can be disappointed by the album is having had unrealistic expectations and rose colored nostalgia. It's solid, with a low filler quota. It still retains a classic BOC flavor, while avoiding being overly dated.

This and the Kansas album are the best of the year.

I'll give it a 7. Not their best and not their worst. Lots of variety on this record there's something for everyone!

Compared to their 70s peak, Eric's pipes are fried, IMO. And they've been fried since the early 2000s, again IMO. That is why they can't do really heavy stuff. If you listen to their nicely-recorded 2002 concert on the Navy Pier, their performance of my favorite "Astronomy" was fair at best. Buck's solo was stellar as expected, but this quintessential BOC piece, that Eric's vocals had always been the showcase, was sadly lacking. Listen to the original studio version, or any concert from the 70s, and compare it to the 2002 performance. I still love the Cult, though.

FANTASTIC ALBUM!!!!

Long time, nit-picky Blue Oyster Cult fan here. Love The Symbol Remains. And I’ll make a bold statement by saying now that only Fire Of Unknown Origin ranks higher in their discography for me.

@russellgentile4719

Жыл бұрын

That's a very bold statement, indeed.

@kevlar1482

8 ай бұрын

LOL. Whatever you are smoking please pass it over here.

The comments about "they're not the original" although factual...the plot line changes when you realize that these three "new" guys have been in the band longer than the big three of Al, Joe, and Alan. I love BOC, all the way.

@thecontrarians2438

5 ай бұрын

good point sounds like a good concept for a show!

Fantastic album the best of 2020

I was super hyped for this and pleasantly surprised by the quality. There are a couple weak tracks, but on the whole solid stuff. And no, Martin, "Train True," isn't good. One of the three weakest tracks on the album.

It's a comeback, but I find the album overly long and oddly disjointed in ways that previous BOC albums weren't. I rank it at the bottom of their discography, even below Revolution and Ninja.

@BegoneJonah

9 ай бұрын

Revolution: Some years ago I discovered "Light Years of Love." Great song! Ninja: Aways liked "Perfect Water."

It's a solid 8 -10 Better than anything Mr. Osbourne has putout the last 4 yrs.

Martin, can you please get the Imaginos book onto Amazon? I would love to order it, but I won't have anything to do with PayPal.

@MartinPopoff

Жыл бұрын

I'm too stupid to figure that out. About a dozen left and it won't be reprinted. I'm sure you have a buddy who isn't feuding with them! : )

talk into the mic Martin lol

I must be the only person on the planet to think The Machine is the best song they've done since Harvest Moon.

Stop tripping over words and definitions. It's a very good and unexpected album. Listen to it again if you like it; otherwise, don't.

The Big Factor here is = B.O.C. went from having Allen in the band to having Ritchie ... Of course the music is going to change somewhat , but , for them to say that Ritchie is trying to write B.O.C. Music is crap !! What other kind of music is he suppose to write for B.O.C. , Boy George Music !!! I Love this Album and rate it a 9 out of 10 !! I really wasn't much on the Train Song , because it just does not even sound like B.O.C. Music to me , that's why I rated it a 9 out of 10 ... Blue Oyster Cult Forever And Ever !!!

My album of year with caveat being this was my probably my least fave year.

Great comeback

Bottom 3 of the catalog for me.

'Box in my Head' is a great song. Yeah, it's power pop. So what? It's a concept piece, it's clever, catchy and it rocks. Don will last longer than Eric. Okay, let's take cheap bets on some of our favorite musicians. For the dumbest of us, it's about male/female relations, and compartmentalization in general. Doesn't sound like any people I know. Why avoid your own reflection? Oh, you might play Narcissus. Damn, Eric's head is YUGE. I'm watching the official video from the band. Don's just doing what Don does. Short guys' revenge, I guess. There's a box in my head, too, and it's also a chinese box, which means good luck getting in, suckers. Bring pliers. That will unearth the treasures marked with an X. ;)

I give this album a 5 out of 10. It´s not even close to the high level of their great 70s and early 80s albums.

I really don't think Richie Castellanos vocal style fits BOC and neither does his lead playing. Tanted Blood is a rip off of Wasted Sunsets by Deep Purple.

Great Comeback. These are actual human beings not marvel super hero’s. To put something like this out after all this time is great. Most in their situation would simply fold. I think some of you are way to critical.

Gotta be a 10 out of 10, these guys are amazing! They’re in their 70s ffs.

Awesome topic! This is not the Best BOC or the Worst BOC! It is a bout a 6 out of 10 for me. Mirrors and Revolution are far worse IMHO.. Richie love him or dislike some of his qualities is still learning from the Masters who obviously approve of him, as he IS the Future of this Band! And this band is going to change! Erick and Donald are not going to go forever, and Richie is going to keep it alive I think, if he is handed the torch. Things and sounds are going to change. You have to hand it to these guys!! They are Still Going after all of these years! They landed a new album! It is not perfect, but Awesome in the fact that they did it! The same could be said about KANSAS as well. Long Live BOC! BOy C is Beyond Eric and Donald! They were only a part of it. Is tally came back, his album Overrated = No, they Finally came back and hopefully the next album will be better!

Florida Man, The Alchemist, and Nightmare Epiphany are the best songs on this album. Oh it’s a comeback in my personal opinion. Everything they put out is a comeback after 1988.

Hardly ever agree with Popoff

@MartinPopoff

Жыл бұрын

He should be banished!

@puddleglumsmusiccollection9151

Жыл бұрын

@@MartinPopoff 😆

It's a pretty corney album and sounds like it was made by a bunch of old men but that's not to say it's bad

Eric Bloom does NOT sound good live, lately. Yes, the album performances are strong. The second guy looked the toughest, but seems the nerdiest so far. Kind of an Eric Bloom vibe, I guess. Kudos for the 8-12 songs per album content.

Hm. A couple of real curmudgeons in the discussion. Very good album.

Major disappointment. Inferior in every aspect to their earlier works. Castillano can't sing, and he is no Lanier. The album has a 90s vibe, so un B.O.C. It's just not Blue Oyster Cult. It more like....Two Oyster Cult. Enough time has passed since its release to say it went flat.

5/10. Sorry it sounds very bland to me and it's way too long. On the same level of boring as Curse of the Hidden Mirror, Heaven Forbid is better and this is just utter crap compared to the Columbia years.

I would like this better if you got rid of Todd Evans.

A fantastic album from a legacy band. As an HP Lovecraft fan, I love The Alchemist. I do agree with Martin on the rough production. To me it’s the only drawback.

The real problem is Bloom's voice is gone....sorely missed.

It lacks the quirkiness of BOC.